The European Commission has opened formal antitrust proceedings against several container liner shipping companies to investigate whether they engaged in concerted practices, in breach of EU antitrust rules. The news comes at a less than fortunate time for the three largest European container shipping companies, Maersk Line, MSC and CMA CGM, who currently have an application for collaboration between them lodged before fair competition authorities in the EU, U.S. and China
. The EU explains that since 2009…